Snowball tournament in Oneida raises funds for National Center for Missing and Exploited Children(video)

ONEIDA >> The temperature was 29 degrees Saturday at 10 a.m. as teams took the field.

This was not the typical weather for a softball game, but this was also not a typical softball game. The game was snowball and the mission was to raise money to support the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

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A project of Weldon Entertainment's Jacob Smith, the second annual charity event attracted players and spectators to Vets Field to witness the craziness of winter softball. With players jumping up and down to keep warm and slipping and sliding on the lightly snow-covered grass, the weather did not hamper the spirits of the players who were there to have fun and raise money for the cause.

"I became interested in doing something for this organization several years ago after hearing a presentation about the organization from a Chamber of Commerce meeting," Smith said. Smith also credited YMCA Director Hank Leo for getting him involved.

The softball game in the snow drew two teams with each participant paying a $21 entry fee. Each participant was given a T-shirt and entry into the big benefit part of the event that took place later in the day at the Oneida YMCA.

During the afternoon and evening portions of the event, children participated in a host of carnival-type games set up within the Oneida YMCA by various organizations including Make-A-Wish of Central New York, Madison County Head Start, Celebration Children's Center of Canastota, the Center for Cultural Interchange, Flo's Diner and Weldon Entertainment.

For the pasta lovers, Flo's Diner donated all of the fixings for a pasta dinner which was served from 5-7 p.m. at the Y. Smith noted that merchants and organizations throughout the area also donated items for a basket raffle that was held during the pasta dinner.

"Last year we raised about $2,000 for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; we hope to raise at least $2,500 this year." Smith said.

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the organization has assisted law enforcement agencies throughout the country in the recovery of more than 180,000 missing children since it was founded in 1984. Their recovery rate for missing children has grown from 62 percent in 1990 to 97.7 percent today.